While reading the Press-Register, two recent articles drew my attention. One was about an $18 million grant for providing cell phones to Muslim women, ostensibly to provide them a measure of independence from their husbands. This grant begs the question of why the taxpayers are responsible for the independence of Muslim women.

The other article was about eliminating $16.5 million in air service subsidies for 13 rural airports, to ensure continued service on less-profitable routes to rural communities. It was pointed out that none of these communities are remote anymore. And why should the taxpayers be responsible for airport service to “remote” communities when it is an individual choice to reside there?

Total savings on two truly irresponsible programs: $34.5 million.

These are just two examples of prospective savings I gleaned while reading a newspaper. How many millions or billions could be saved from senseless programs such as these which were, undoubtedly, created by politicians currying political favor? Individual and governmental responsibilities are seemingly abandoned in lieu of politically inspired programs.

SUSAN WESTERMAN

Mobile

A balanced budget amendment has risks

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives made a major error in trying to attach to the debt ceiling bill a provision that approving an increase in the debt limit would require passage by Congress and submission to the states a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The balanced budget amendment, if passed, would do great harm to the citizens of the United States.

The balanced budget amendment would make it virtually impossible for a future president or Congress to take the steps necessary to react quickly in an emergency situation.

During a decline in our economy, when stimulus spending is needed to prevent a deepening recession, a balanced budget amendment would call for spending cuts instead. This would cause job loss, decline in family income levels, and a reduction in the quality of life for many of our citizens.

This economic decline would be made worse by other provisions of a balanced budget amendment, such as the requirement for supermajority votes in the House and Senate to increase the debt limit, waive the balanced budget requirement or to raise any taxes, including closing the most egregious tax loopholes.

The amendment would almost certainly require cuts to vital programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, public safety, environmental protection, education, medical research and many others.

EDWARD LAWRENCE

Fairhope

Debt ceiling crisis didn’t have to happen

Whenever a terrorist takes hostages, he always tells the authorities that if his demands aren’t met, he’ll be “forced” to kill the hostages. He tells the police that if anyone dies, it will be the police and not the terrorists who are to blame. “Their blood will be on your hands.”

But nobody buys that. No matter how just your cause, when you put innocent bystanders at risk to get what you want, you are responsible for any harm that befalls them.

The same is true of the default crisis. When the Republicans decided to use the debt ceiling vote as leverage to get the budget concessions they wanted, they took the economy hostage. They said, “Give us what we want, or we’ll blow the whole place up.”

This crisis never had to happen. It is only the Republicans’ insistence on tying the debt ceiling to their extreme and unpopular budget plans that has put our economy in this perilous position. Whatever harm we suffer from coming so close to default that we wreck our credit rating, the Republicans alone will be to blame.

TIM DRUMMOND

Fairhope

Nothing to celebrate in debt ceiling deal

Members of my party have nothing to celebrate, as many members, including the speaker of the House, voted to support legislation that will increase our nation’s debt by over $7 trillion in the next 10 years. While the media’s propaganda machine is claiming victory for the Tea Party, it is, in reality, a resounding defeat for all true conservatives and for the future of our nation.

Credit rating agencies will downgrade our credit, as we have gone beyond the point of no return.

We need elected officials who are true American conservatives, ones who will actually reduce the size of government and cut spending. A good start would be eliminating the departments of Energy, Education, Welfare, Transportation, Homeland Security and all entitlement programs. We also need Social Security reforms as well as monetary reforms (get rid of the Fed and our fiat currency).

Cutting the income and staff of all elected officials and judges by 50 percent is another act that should be implemented.

I favor bringing our troops home and protecting our own borders and sending all illegal aliens packing. The pro-Marxist property taxes should be eliminated, as well as the pro-Marxist “illegal” income tax.

I encourage every person reading this letter to contact the person representing you on the Executive Committee for the Republican Party and find out where he stands on these issues. If he or she does not agree, then vote them off of the committee, if you agree with what I have written.